The Building

The major part of the church was built in 1831-6 to the design of Lewis Vulliamy. It was extended in 1904-5 by Arthur Grove, forming the chancel, Lady Chapel, vestry and sacristy; and again in 1980-81 by Dry Hastwell Butlin Bicknell for the meeting room and residential accommodation.

Of particular interest are the remains of the once larger collection of nineteenth and early twentieth century furnishings, carving, painted decoration and fittings.

The building volumes comprise:

A wide, lofty, flat-ceilinged nave, approached either from the west porch, or from the hall lobby, via a narthex formed under the gallery running across the width of the west end of the nave; originally accessed also from the south-west and north-west porches, the latter now partly kitchen, and both having staircases up to the gallery.

Over the porches are two upper galleries, north and south, both disused; their access stairs; and the bell Chamber and spire.

To the east of the nave, the chancel, flanked to the south by the Lady Chapel, and to the north by the organ chamber with loft over. Beyond the organ chamber are in turn, the sacristy, the sacristy lobby with cloakroom, flower room, and the vestry.

To the north of the nave, and linked both to the north-west porch and vestry by lobbies, is the meeting hall, with toilet facilities. Over the vestry, cloakroom/flower room and sacristy is residential accommodation, with independent access.

History

St John’s was opened in 1831, and was originally a Chapel of Ease for St Mary Magdalene, Richmond’s Parish Church. It was designed by Lewis Vulliamy for the Church Commissioners and built at a cost of £5,633. In 1838, it became a separate parish and for 40 years maintained an evangelical tradition under its first vicar, Canon John Hales.

When Canon Hales died in 1879, a vicar was appointed (Revd. Henry Miller) who had decidedly Anglo-Catholic tendencies and by the turn of the century high church worship had become firmly established. The church’s social mission expanded dramatically: St John’s House provided meals and care for the poor and sick; a Boys’ Rowing Club was formed; and the Working Men’s Club in Larkfield Road boasted a bagatelle room, a card room and a reading room. In addition, there were three church schools that maintained a consistently high standard.

Since the beginning of the last century St John’s has been renowned for its standard of music and worship. Well-loved vicars have included the noted theologian, Canon V. Auguste Demant, and Canon Helby Chambers. Among the congregation there have been famous names like T.S. Eliot and Dorothy L. Sayers.

In 1992, St John’s, together with St Matthias and St Mary Magdalene, became part of the Richmond Team Ministry, each church retaining its own identity and liturgy.

The church originally had a gallery on three sides, with a second upper gallery (for children!) at the west end. In 1905, Arthur Grove extended the church by adding the sanctuary and Lady Chapel. Together with friends from the Arts and Crafts Movement (including Eric Gill and N.H.J. Westlake) he created an harmonious extension. In 1921, a large blue and gold cross, carved by a nun from one of the London convents, was hung and in the 1960s the Stations of the Cross were carved by Freda Skinner, a pupil of Henry Moore, based on the Stations by Eric Gill in Westminster Cathedral. Eric Gill’s own work in the church can be seen in the stone carving over the sacristy door and on the triptych.

The triptych behind the altar was completed in 1908 by N.H.J. Westlake who also painted the sanctuary ceiling which illustrates passages from the Book of the Revelation, chapter 14.

The organ, built by Beale and Thynne, was dedicated in December 1896. Thynne is reputed to be the finest voicer of organs this country has ever known.